Fantasy Football 2014 Running Back Rankings: Week 3
DeMarco Murray
Injuries and off-field matters have certainly left their mark on the NFL season thus far, as Athlon Sports’ Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings for Week 3 can attest. When Adrian Peterson will return (if he returns) is anyone’s guess, while Jamaal Charles, Doug Martin, Ryan Mathews, Ben Tate, Knowshon Moreno, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mark Ingram and DeAngelo Williams all either got hurt last week or missed last week because of injury. With so many backfields already impacted, it’s good to know there are still some constants to lean on. Such as LeSean McCoy, last year’s rushing champion who has produced back-to-back games of at least 95 total yards. Shady should be in for another productive afternoon when the Eagles host the Redskins on Sunday.
Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.
Positional Rankings: QB I RB I WR I TE I DST I K
2014 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Backs
Rank | Player | Team | Opp | Comments |
1 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | vs. WAS | Picked up 102 total yards, TD vs. Colts. |
2 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | at STL | No. 1 fantasy RB ran wild (167 yds.) vs. Titans. |
3 | Arian Foster | HOU | at NYG | Two straight 100-yard games for Foster. |
4 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | vs. DEN | Just six carries (plus 4 rec., TD) vs. Chargers. |
5 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | vs. TEN | Gio's talents (90 rush, 79 rec.) on display vs. ATL. |
6 | Alfred Morris | WAS | at PHI | Who needs catches if you score 2 TDs? |
7 | Matt Forte | CHI | at NYJ (Mon.) | Bottled up (36 total yds.) vs. 49ers. |
8 | Le'Veon Bell | PIT | at CAR | 107 total yards in loss to Ravens. |
9 | Eddie Lacy | GB | at DET | Held to just 43 yards rushing vs. Jets. |
10 | Knile Davis | KC | at MIA | Stepped up (79 yds., 2 TDs) after Charles injury. |
11 | Montee Ball | DEN | at SEA | Slow start could be prolonged vs. Seahawks. |
12 | C.J. Spiller | BUF | vs. SD | 5.8 ypc + 102-yard KOR for TD vs. MIA. |
13 | Rashad Jennings | NYG | vs. HOU | 109 total yards vs. Cardinals. |
14 | Zac Stacy | STL | vs. DAL |
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15 | Joique Bell | DET | vs. GB | Twice as many touches (16 to 8) as Bush. |
16 | Andre Ellington | ARI | vs. SF | Averaging 5.1 ypc despite foot issue. |
17 | Stevan Ridley | NE | vs. OAK | The 25 carries are certainly encouraging. |
18 | Darren Sproles | PHI | vs. WAS | Little man came up HUGE (152 rec. yds.) on MNF. |
19 | Lamar Miller | MIA | vs. KC | Should see bulk of the carries w/ Moreno out. |
20 | Reggie Bush | DET | vs. GB | Hopefully better matchups ahead for Bush. |
21 | Frank Gore | SF | at ARI | Big TD run vs. Bears wiped out by penalty. |
22 | Doug Martin | TB | at ATL (Thurs.) | Late scratch (ankle) last week. Watch closely. |
23 | Bernard Pierce | BAL | at CLE | Got the work (22 att.) and yards (96). |
24 | Pierre Thomas | NO | vs. MIN | More work coming w/ Ingram (hand) out? |
25 | Toby Gerhart | JAC | vs. IND | 8 yards on 7 carries not getting it done. |
26 | Chris Johnson | NYJ | vs. CHI (Mon.) | Averaging just 3.6 yards per carry thus far. |
27 | Ahmad Bradshaw | IND | at JAC | 70 yds. rushing and 2 rec. TDs. |
28 | Terrance West | CLE | vs. BAL | Rookie did his job (68, TD) vs. Saints. |
29 | Shane Vereen | NE | vs. OAK | Out-touched (25 to 7), upstaged by Ridley. |
30 | Matt Asiata | MIN | at NO | His job for now w/ Peterson on exempt list. |
31 | Bobby Rainey | TB | at ATL (Thurs.) | Exploded for 144 yds. In Martin's absence. |
32 | Chris Ivory | NYJ | vs. CHI (Mon.) | Just 43 yards, but was still better than CJ. |
33 | Khiry Robinson | NO | vs. MIN | Figures to benefit from Ingram's (hand) injury. |
34 | Donald Brown | SD | at BUF | Should see more work w/ Mathews out. |
35 | Trent Richardson | IND | at JAC | Looked great against Eagles until fumble. |
36 | Fred Jackson | BUF | vs. SD | Spiller more effective against Dolphins. |
37 | Steven Jackson | ATL | vs. TB (Thus.) | Yet to be much of factor. |
38 | Danny Woodhead | SD | at BUF | Will his role change w/ Mathews (MCL) out? |
39 | Shonn Greene | TEN | at CIN |
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40 | Darren McFadden | OAK | at NE | Out-rushed by QB (37 to 58) w/ MJD out. |
41 | Jeremy Hill | CIN | vs. TEN | 15 carries and first career TD vs. Falcons. |
42 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | vs. PIT | Struggled as starter w/ DeAngelo (thigh) out. |
43 | DeAngelo Williams | CAR | vs. PIT | Did not play last week b/c of thigh injury. |
44 | Justin Forsett | BAL | at CLE | 8 carries vs. BAL compared to 22 for Pierce. |
45 | Isaiah Crowell | CLE | vs. BAL | 11 carries a good sign for him moving forward. |
46 | Carlos Hyde | SF | at ARI |
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47 | Bishop Sankey | TEN | at CIN | Gets two carries in loss to Cowboys. |
48 | Jerick McKinnon | MIN | at NO | Rookie could get more opportunities w/ Peterson out. |
Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:
OFFENSIVE SCORING
All touchdowns are 6 points
1 point for 25 yards passing
1 point for 10 yards rushing/receiving
Receptions are .5 points
Interceptions/fumbles are minus-2 points
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